When is the best time of day to workout?

It depends. If you want to workout at the optimal time of day when your muscles will perform at their best, the late afternoon is probably your best bet.  If you want to relieve stress from the day, a little later in the afternoon is better.  If you want to eliminate distractions, early morning might be your best bet. 

There are pros and cons to working out in the morning versus the afternoon.  Some people believe that the early morning gives them an advantage by starting the day out with a higher metabolism, increased energy and the feeling that exercise has already been accomplished.  Other people see more benefit in releasing pent up tension from the day by working out later and reducing the chance of getting injured because muscles are much warmer than in the early morning. 

In the long run, it doesn’t matter when you decide to workout, what matters is that you workout consistently.  Being determined and diligent with an exercise regimen is much more important than worrying about what time of day to sweat.  Whichever time works for you and enables you to consistently workout over a long period of time is the hour that’s best for you. Staying dedicated and on track provides more benefits than worrying about what time of day it is.

Michele Silence, MA Contributing Expert

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